The recent Kaikoura earthquake sent strong shock waves not only through the earth's surface, but the organisation tasked with informing has told kiwis that a major tsunami is possible. Following the degree 7.8 earthquake, balanced in power to the one that badly damage Napier in 1931 they have said that one is highly likely to hit if it happens again. A 2m-high tsunami had already hit the Kaikoura from the first earthquake.
There were two people who died in Kaikoura and Mt Lyford, east of Hanmer Springs. The tsunami warning has now been decline to a marine and beach threat, which remains in Napier to Dunedin and Chatham Island, find your local clearing zone. Tsunami waves were recorded in and around the Kaikoura and some parts of Wellington. All the trains in the South Island and all trains on the North Island main trunk line south of Palmerston North are cancelled until farther notice. The first earthquake struck near Hanmer Springs just after mid night.
